Rotary chair



Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,725

0. L. WOLFE ROTARY CHAIR Filed April 30, 1926 1 w I X /a A9 I 70 I! It) Inventor 0. Z. WZ/fa g g w m Attarney Patented 15.... 1s, 2

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ROTARY CHAIR.

Application filed April .30, 1926. Serial No. 105,772.

This invention'relates to a device which may be broadly referred to as a rotary chair, the same having more specific reference to backs are disalignedand appear untidy.

a chair which-is ,articularly, but not necessarily, designed or use in association w1th lunch counters in restaurants.

It is well known that in many of the modern restaurants, soda fountainsand the like rotarystools and chairs are provided for. the patrons. Some of these chairs comprise a seat having a vertical back rest. Ordinarily, the chairs are found in a disorderlycondition, due to .the fact that the What I propose to do is to provide a device which is associated with the seat and serves to automaticall rotate it and-maintain it in a predetermmed position in order that the back rest will be parallel to the counter. Thus by equipping all of the chairs along the counter w1th devices of this kind, all the backs are maintained in parallelism and provides a neat and attractiveappearance.

The structural features and advanta es will become ap arent from the following escription and rawings.

In the accompanying part of'this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a side view of a chair constructed in accordance with thepresent'invention. 7

Figure 2 is a section throu h the standard I showing one of the details en arged.

Fi ure 3 is a. view in section and elevation showing the complete device, and its manner of association with the chair bottom and standard.

Referring to the'd'ra'wing in detail, the reference character 1 designates the hollow tubular standard. which is ap ropriately fastened to the; fioor adjacent t e counter in the usual manner. The chair bottom is represented bythe reference character '2,

audit will be seen that it is provided on its under side'with a bearing late 3 having a stub axle 4 depending there rom. 1 This stub axle is slidably received in the tubular stand- 5 ard, and it will be noted that the upper end 5 I of this standard cooperates with. the bearing surface of the plate 3 in forming a swivel,

i "wherebyvthe chair bottom may be rotated freely to accommodate the position of the all 2 times.

drawing forming a occupant. The back org back rest is indicated generally by the referencelcharacter 6, and this may be of any appropriate construction. As before stated, in many cases where there is arow of such chairs, the backs assume various angles with respect to the counter, and each other and present a somewhat disorderly appearance. The device which I provide, however, serves to maintain the back 6 in parallelism wit-h the edge of the counter at The device is generally designated by the reference character 7. p

Referring more particularly to Figure 3,

it will be seen that this device 7 comprises a circular casing 8 having an attaching collar 9 at its bottom which is fitted" snugly on the exterior of the standard 1. This casing is' openv at its top, and is surrounded by an inturned marginalflange 10. If desired, it may be provided with a garment supporting hook 11. Disposed on the interior of the casing is an annular track- 12. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 this track comprises an annulus or ring 13 of beveled form having a.

notch 14 formed at a predetermined point.

Extending inwardly from this ring .are'radiating arms 15 connected to a collar 16 which surrounds -the standard and is fastened thereto by retaining screws 17 I' might state that in placing the track in place the notch 14 isarranged parallel to the lunch counter (not shown). Secured to the under side of the chair bottom as at 18 is a depending cylinder 19 housing a coiled spring 20. An adjusting screw 21 is provided for varying the tension of this spring and it will be noted that the sprin bears against a lunger 22 which'is slida 1e in the cylinder. his plunger carries a rotary disk 23 the -journal of which is slidable in a slot 24 05 formed in the wall of the cylinder adjacent the bottom. The tension of the SPIlIlg is such as to overbalance and raise the seat 2 and back rest upwardly to spaced bearing surfaces 3 and 5 apart, when the chair is un-' mo occupied. I

The operation of. the device 'is as follows: Normally, the chair back 6 ,is in parallelism with the counter, at which time thefperiph-a ery of the roller 23 is seated in thenotch '14. The presence of this device serves to maintain the chair normally in this sition. However, when a person appro es the: counter to occupy the chair the ,back- ,is grasped and the chair is turned slightly to facilitate seating at the counter. The moment the chair is occupied, the weight serves to overcome the tension of the spring 20 and to allow the bearing surfaces 3 and 5 to roller or disc 23 to ridearound onto the high portion of the track ring 13. However, as the weight is taken off the chair bottom, the spring raises the chair bottom up and this action permits the load to gravitate and allows the chair to assume its original position when left standing. Thus, chairs equipped with this device will automatically be returned to lend an attractive appearance to the row of chairs at all times.

It is believed that by considering the description in connection with the drawings, a clear understanding of the invention will be had. In view of this, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

Minorchanges coming within the field of the invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a structure of the class described, in combination, a standard, of hollow form, a chair including a bottom 7 said bottom being provided on its underside with a bearing plate and a stub axle depending from the plate and slidably received in said standard, a beveled track ring surroundin the standard beneath the chair bottom an fastened to said standard, a casing also fastened to the standard and surrounding the track ring, spring pressed means carried by said chair bottom and engageable with the track and normally exerting an upward thrust upon the chair bottom to maintain said bearing in spaced relation to said standard, said casing being open at its top, and said means comprising a vertically 'disposed cylinder attached to the under side of the rotary I chair bottom and disposed eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of said bottom, a plunger slidable in said cylinder, a spring in said cylinder cooperable with said plunger, and a roller carried by said plunger and rotatably contacting the upper side of said track ring.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

OTTO L'. WOLFE. 

